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Jagdish Singh Patani, a retired deputy SP and father of actress Disha Patani, has alleged that he was defrauded of Rs 25 lakh by a group of five individuals who promised him a high-ranking government position. The fraud was reported to have occurred in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, and an FIR has been registered at the Bareilly Kotwali police station. The case has been filed under charges of cheating, criminal intimidation, and extortion.
Patani, a resident of Bareilly's Civil Lines area, claims that Shivendra Pratap Singh, whom he knew personally, introduced him to Diwakar Garg, Acharya Jayaprakash, Preeti Garg, and one unidentified individual. According to Patani’s complaint, the group assured him that they could secure a prestigious position for him within a government commission, such as chairman or vice-chairman. The suspects reportedly boasted of their political connections and claimed they could leverage these ties to fulfill the promise.
The group allegedly gained Patani's trust over time and took a total of Rs 25 lakh from him. This sum included Rs 5 lakh in cash and Rs 20 lakh transferred to three separate bank accounts. Despite receiving the money, the accused failed to deliver on their promises. After three months of no progress, Patani demanded his money back. In response, the accused allegedly became hostile and started issuing threats, pressuring him to withdraw his claims.
Patani further stated that the fraudsters introduced an accomplice, Himanshu, who posed as an "officer on special duty" to further validate their false claims of political influence. The group allegedly presented Himanshu as a key figure in their supposed network of powerful contacts. Realizing that he had been deceived, Patani approached the police and filed a complaint, which led to the registration of an FIR.
Kotwali police station in-charge D K Sharma confirmed the registration of the FIR and stated that a case had been filed against the accused individuals for cheating, criminal intimidation, and extortion. The suspects named in the FIR include Shivendra Pratap Singh, Diwakar Garg, Acharya Jayaprakash, Preeti Garg, and one unidentified individual. The police have launched an investigation and are actively working to arrest the accused. Authorities have assured that strict legal action will be taken against those involved in the fraud.